Consumers get stuck with the tab. It is estimated that retail theft has added $423 to the average family’s shopping bill this year.

Experts call the figure phenomenal.

The cost is actually down somewhat, because retailers are boosting security spending by more than 12 percent this year.

Organized retail crime is the most serious headache for merchants – a far bigger worry than employee theft or shoplifting. Organized gangs sweep away entire shelves of merchandise for retail, often on the Web.